This individual is an expert in all things related to content and channel optimization, brand consistency, segmentation and localization, analytics and meaningful measurement.

The position collaborates with the departments of public relations, communications, marketing, customer service, IT and human resources to help define both the brand story and the story as interpreted by the customer.

Responsibilities

Ultimately, the job of the CCO is to think like a publisher/journalist, leading the development of content initiatives in all forms to drive new and current business. This includes:

Ensuring all content is on-brand, consistent in terms of style, quality and tone of voice, and optimized for search and user experience for all channels of content including online, social media, email, point of purchase, mobile, video, print and in-person. This is to be done for each buyer persona within the enterprise.

Mapping out a content strategy that supports and extends marketing initiatives, both short- and long-term, determining which methods work for the brand and why. Continuous evolvement of strategy is a must.

The development of a functional content calendar throughout the enterprise verticals, and defining the owners in each vertical to particular persona groups.

Supervising writers, editors, content strategists; be an arbiter of best practices in grammar, messaging, writing, and style.

Conducting ongoing usability tests to gauge content effectiveness. Gathering data and handle analytics (or supervise those who do) and make recommendations based on those results. Working with owners of particular content to revise and measure particular content and marketing goals.

Participation in the hiring and supervising of content/story leaders in all content verticals.

Creation of a strategy for developing SMS/MMS outreach and advertising, apps, etc. as needed.

Work closely with company’s Chief Design Officer on all creative and branding initiatives to ensure a consistent message across channels.

Success Criteria

The CCO is measured on the continual improvement of customer nurturing and retention through storytelling, as well as the increase in new prospects into the enterprise through the consistent development and deployment of content to each persona group. Success criteria include:

Positive brand recognition and consistency across chosen published channels.

Multilingual abilities (specifically Spanish and Chinese) a major plus.

Audience development and subscription strategies experience a plus.

Skills Required

The CCO requires a combination marketing and publishing mindset, with the most important aspect being to think “customer first”. In essence, the CCO is the corporate storyteller that must be empathetic toward the pain points of the customer. Specific skills required include:

Training as a print or broadcast journalist and has a “nose” for the story. Training in how to tell a story using words, images, or audio, and an understanding of how to create content that draws an audience (it is critical that the CCO retain an “outsider’s perspective” much like that of a journalist.)

The ability to lead and inspire large teams of creative personnel and content creators to achieve company’s stated goals.

Skill at both long-form content creation and real-time (immediate) content creation and distribution strategies and tactics.

The ability to think like an educator, intuitively understanding what the audience needs to know and how they want to consume it.

A passion for new technology tools (aka, using the tools you preach about) and usage of those tools within your own blogs and social media outreach. Social DNA a plus!

Clear articulation of the business goal behind the creation of a piece (or series) of content.

Leadership skills required to define and manage a set of goals involving diverse contributors and content types

Project management skills to manage editorial schedules and deadlines within corporate and ongoing campaigns. Ability to work in a 24 hour project cycle-utilizing teams or contractors in other countries.

Familiarity with principles of marketing (and the ability to adapt or ignore them as dictated by data).

This is an excellent template for defining a role that has emerged out of the chaos of “new media” as one of the most critical functions in modern communications. I love it!

http://twitter.com/eleanorpierce Eleanor

Wonderful! My boss and I are in the process of redefining my role as we try to up our content game, and this document will be a big help to us!

http://www.getinfrontcommunications.com Susan Young

Hi Joe,

This is such a wonderful tool and scope for both hiring managers and applicants.

I was especially glad to see the 10-15 years of experience in journalism. Savvy companies are hiring corporate reporters (similar to your Chief Content Officer description)and are tapping into the skill set of former news reporters and journalists like myself. We are able to easily create a steady stream of content, craft compelling stories for internal and external communications, and offer a fresh perspective on the business world.

I believe this trend will be significant in 2012.

Cheers~
Susan

http://www.jobdescriptionsamples.com/ Frances

It’s nice to find this kind of job description sample. A chief content officer is a relatively new job title to me.

Andrea

A superhuman job description indeed! 🙂 Thanks for all the great content, Joe. I have just been promoted as Head of Content Strategy at a small (22 employees) but quickly growing video production company in South Africa. My role is more specifically related to developing content strategy for effective video messaging and I was tasked with defining my own job description. In my research your site has really grabbed my attention adn I’m considering the possibility of convincing my bosses that it would be even more effective to develop the area of content marketing and creating a niche as video content marketing specialists. Would you know of any resources that focus on the power of video as a content marketing tool? Many thanks, Andrea